PM condemns death of Saudi journalist

It comes a day after the government announced it would be "no longer appropriate" to attend next week's Future Investment Initiative forum in Saudi Arabia.

"We deplore the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. We expect the Saudi government to co-operate fully with Turkish authorities regarding the investigation of this matter," Mr Morrison told reporters on Sunday.

"Australia will stand with all other like-minded countries in condemning this death, this killing, and we expect there to be full co-operation.

"Those who have been arrested will go through the proper process.

"We expect the truth to be determined through that process and those responsible to be held accountable."

The summit in Riyadh is in crisis after key sponsors pulled out and finance ministers from France and the Netherlands announced they would noSt attend.

Saudi Arabian officials released a statement on Saturday saying Khashoggi died after a fight broke out in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

Khashoggi was not seen again after entering the building.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said she had conveyed to the Saudi ambassador to Australia the government's serious concern about the situation.

"In light of this new information, we have determined that official Australian representation at the forthcoming Future Investment Initiative event in Riyadh is no longer appropriate," Senator Payne said.